Toggle clamp



sept, 11, 1951 F, W LAMPE 'I 2,567,436

TOGGLE CLAMP Filed Marh 29, 1949 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 11`,v:1951

AOFFICE;

TOGGLE CLAMP Friedrich W. Lampe, Detroit, Mich., assignor to 1 Lapeer Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan Application Marchv 29, 1949, Serial No. 84,227 ciaims. (o1. 74,-106) This invention relates to linkage systems and in particular refers `to clampingr devices.

The major object of the invention is to provide a clamping device of the toggle type in which a member can be locked in two different positions by movement past dead center, with less than IST-movement of the handle and without resetting the handle.

A further object is to provide a device for the purposeset forth which has few parts and is economical to manufacture, but which is rugged and eilicient in operation.

A' preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings to illustrate the principles of the invention wherein: p

Figure 1` is a side elevation of a toggle clamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; A l

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1,` showing it in a dierent position; Y

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. r4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 5 is aside elevation with parts broken away of a modified Vform of the invention; and

".Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 with parts broken away.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate the principles of the invention, a reciprocatory rod` member l is slidably carried by a frame structure 3. The frame may be of any design suitable for the purpose for which the clamp is to be used, but is preferably formed as hereinafter described. It includes" longitudinal side plates 5 connected by transverse web sections I which have `bushings or extrusions 9 in which the rod I is mounted. A pair of bow-links II 'are pivoted at I3 to the inner end of the rod I. and are thus slidably moved therewith. As shown in the drawings, the bow-links are arched to present a concaveside facing the rod I. A pair of guide links I5 are pivoted at Il to the side -plates'i and the axis of this pivot connection preferably intersects the extended axis of the rod I. The other ends of the guide links I5 are thus constrained to move in circles about the axis of pivot connection I1 and these 'ends of the guide links I5 are pivoted at 'I9 to the ends of the bow-links so that the latter must also move about the axis of pivot I'I.

In normal usage, the rod I will be attached to an object to be moved (not shown) and movement is effected through the linkage described by means of a handle lever 2|. This lever may include a pair of side arms which are pivoted to the side plates 5 at 23 and have slots 25 which 2 A receive the pivot pin lis whereby the latter may bemoved about the pivot I1 as previously lmen-l' tioned. This movement of the pin I9 is transmitted through the bow-links Il to slide the rod I in the direction. in which the handle 21Y is moved. When the handle 2l is moved to the left,-V

the arched construction 'of the bow-links II permits the axis of pivot connection I9 to droponl or below a plane through the axes of pivot connections I'I and I 3, i. e., beyond dead center and provide locking before the concave undersidesA thereof engage the pivot pins II as shown in Fig. 2 to preventfurther movement. In this `position the rod I is withdrawn into the frame 3 and positively held there since axial forces are not able to raise the pivot I9 above dead center. As the lever 2-I is moved toward the right, the pivot I9 circles about the pivot I'Iand passes beyond dead center on the oppo'site'side thereof as shown in Fig. It may benoted that ears 26 on the links II :always remain within the side plates 5 during this movement and thereby pre-` vent jammingf'due to--possible rtransverse movement of the pair of bow links.' The movement beyond dead center is permitted but also limitedV by slots 21 in the side plates5 which receive the pivot Apin I9.' It will be recognized that axialv forces on the rod when Vthepivot connection I9 is in this position are not capable of moving the: linkage so that the rod is locked in the extreme outward position.

It is to be especiauy noted that since'the ham.

dle 2| is pivoted aboutv its own independent pivot 23 instead of pivot i1, less than 180 movement is required to lock the rod I in either of itsextreme positions. As shownin Fig. 5, this result can also be achieved by pivoting the-handle 2I to the pivot I9V and by slo'tting` itssconnection with the pivot 23 as shown at 19. If itis desired to have the rod I move ina direction oppositeto thehandle.. thiscan be'achieved by placing' the pivot23above the pivot I1'. rThe frame 3 is preferably constructed in accordance with detailsthatare best shown in Figs.-

l, 2 andf. It includes the: parallel side plates 5 which may have lateral bottom llanges 5I lfor at'- tachment `tor a tabIe-or' the like. The linkagei is connected. to the frame members l5'fby the pivot pin I'I and rthe rod I is supported on 'the frame members 5 through the medium of extrusions 9 formed inthe Iweb 'I and the angle shaped cover and front plate 53. The lweb 'I is supported on the side plates 5 by pairs of lateral tabs 55 which fit in suitable receiving slots in the side plates. The angle plate 53 rests, of course, on the top edges of the side plates and it is 'adapted to prevent lateral relative movement of the side plates, thus assisting the pivot 23 and handle 2| which also performs this function. This is accomplished by the pairs of upright tabs 51 on the side plates which fit in suitable slots in the angle plate 53. The web 1 is also 'attached to the angle plate '53 by means of a'tab and slot connection 59. Assembly of .the frame members is permitted by a sl'igh't resiliency of the top of the angle plate 53 and once the tab and slot connections are established, the toggle clamp 'is securely assembled, no permanent connection such as rivets,

l nuts and bolts or welds being required to hold ther assembly together. However, since there may be relative movement of the frame parts, tending to bow link whereby said last end of the bow link is conned to travel in a predetermined circular path about the nxed axis as a center and a central portion of the bow link bearing upon the pivot connection at the fixed axis may serve to limit rotary travel of the other end of the bow link in an outward direction, means providing a second pivot connection `on the frame spaced from the rst, and a lever having a non-slidable connection with one of said two pivot connections and a slidable connection with the other Y ywhereby less than 180 movement of the lever is bind the rod I, the iront of the'plate 53 may be riveted at 46| to side ilanges 63 -on the side mem- A bers 5 toprevent such movement, and'in addition all tabs may be peened.

f :By virtue of the construction shown it will now be realized that the rod I may be locked in either of t'wo axial positions with a handle movement of less than 180 and without resetting of the handle. It will be apparent thatr the principles of the invention as exemplified above may be embodied in other constructions, hence it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific con'-` struction described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toggle clamp, the ciprocatory'member, a guide link having yai iixed ilrst pivot connection, a bow-link having a second pivot connection with the member and A'a third pivot connection with the guide link and having a concave side facing the plane defined by the axes of the first and second pivot connections, and 'a lever having a fourth pivot andoperativel'y Secured to the third pivot connection for reciprocating the member into locked positions at opposite ends ofl itsstroke with less than 180 movement of the lever. r w f `v2. In ya. toggle clamp, the combination of a reciprocatory member, iirst pivot connection, a bow link having a second pivot connection with the member and a third pivot connection with the guide link *and having a concave side facing the platedeflned by the Vaxes oi the vfirst and second pivot connections,

means for limiting movement of the third pivot connection beyond the face of the-plane opposite said bow-link, and a lever movable about a fourth pivot operatively attached tothe third pivot connection for moving the member into locked positions at opposite endsof its strokey wherein they third pivot is beyond dead center, said lever movemerit being less than 180.

3. A two-way toggle clamp comprising a frame, a reciprocatory member mounted'on the frame, a bow-shaped link having a pivoted drive connection at one end with the member, a guide link lpivoted at one end to the frame about a xed axis lying substantially in a plane through the reciprocatory axis oi the member and normal to the plane of the bow link and rearwardly of the` pivot connection between the bow link and member, a first pivot connection between the other endof the guide link and the Otherend of the combination of a re.

a guide link havingv a fixedy .slidable connection with capable of moving the flrst pivot connection beyond dead center' in either direction.

4. In a toggle clamp, the combination of a reciprocatory member, a guide link having a fixed pivot, a connector link pivotedy to the member and having a iirst pivot connection with the guide link, said connector link being constructed and arranged to permit movement of the rst pivot connection over the fixed pivot and beyond dead center on either side thereof, means providing a second pivot connection, and a lever having'va one of said two pivot connections and a non-slidable connection with the other whereby less than movement of the lever is required to move the first pivot confnection to dead center positions on opposite sides,

of the :xed pivot.

5. A toggle clamp comprising a pair of later,-I

ally spaced elongated upright side plates, anl

tabs on the web, said side plates having slots re;

ceiving'said web tabs, means providing aligned apertures in the web and front cover, a rod slidably mounted in the web and cover and extending through the apertures, arched links pivoted yto both sides of the rod, a guide link having a pivot connection with the side plates, said pivot connection being on the concave side -of the arched links, means pivotally connecting the other ends of the arched links and the guideY link, said means being movable across the axis of the rod on both sides of said pivotal connection whereby said rod may be locked in extreme forward or rear positions, a handle having a pivot. connection with the side members and with the last means, and slot means whereby said handle'- is capable of longitudinal movement relative to'` one of its two mentlonedpivot connections.

FRIEDRICH W. LAMPE.

REFERENCES CITED YThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v .f Date 62,510 Tracy Feb. 26, 1867 2,242,314 Martin et al May 20, 1941 2,295,731 Groves Sept. 15, 1942 2,354,224

Stein July 25, 1944 

